HIGHLIGHTS

HIGHLIGHTS

FIR against BJP MLA T Raja Singh for supporting flogging of Dalit men

The BJP leader has been booked for promoting enmity

4 Dalit youths were beaten up by cow vigilantes in Una

A First Information Report (FIR) was lodged today against BJP MLA T Raja Singh for supporting the flogging of Dalit men by self-styled vigilantes in Gujarat's Una last month over the skinning of a dead cow.

The Mangalhat police station in Hyderabad has booked the Goshamahal MLA for posting a video on Facebook in which he had said that those who consume cow meat are bringing disgrace to the entire community and should be taught a lesson.

"I support the beating of Dalits whoever slaughter cows to consume its meat. It is apt. I also support those who taught them a lesson," Singh said in his two-and-half minute video, captioned "My comments on recent Una Dalit incident", uploaded on July 30 and viewed nearly 80,000 times so far.

"I am asking those Dalits (who kill cows). Is it necessary to murder cow and eat its meat? This is absolutely wrong. It is because of such 'galeez' (dirty or disgusting) Dalits, that the image of whole Dalit community which is patriotic, follows dharma, and worships cows, is tarnished," he goes on.

The BJP leader has been booked for promoting enmity between different groups on the grounds of religion, and disrupting communal harmony.

On July 11, four Dalit youths were beaten up by cow vigilantes at Mota Samadhiyala village in Una taluka of Gir Somnath district when they were skinning a dead cow.

Though the youths pleaded that they are from the skinning community, the cow vigilantes thrashed them alleging that they were involved in cow slaughter, The video of their thrashing soon went viral, sparking a massive outrage inside and outside Parliament.